Your Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Act (HEERF II) emergency financial aid grant

NOTE: This email was sent to students who met the eligibility requirements for HEERF II grants.

Dear [student name],

The U.S. Department of Education established the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) to provide emergency financial aid grants to students who experienced unexpected expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants are part of the CRRSAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II).

Wake Forest is able to extend to you an emergency financial aid grant of [AMOUNT].

How you will receive your grant

• The grant will be processed on Wednesday, March 24; checks will be mailed and direct deposits sent beginning on Thursday, March 25th.
• Direct Deposit: You will receive this grant via direct deposit if you had previously signed up for direct deposit or do so by Tuesday, March 23. Instructions are here. Please note that it will take a day or two for the direct deposit to reach your bank, so do not be alarmed if you do not receive it on March 24th; please allow 3 business days for processing.
• Check: If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, you will receive a paper check sent to your primary address on file with the University.
  • Please check WIN to verify we have your correct address:
    • Go to WIN > Personal > Your Personal Information > Personal Information to view and edit your address, if needed.
    • If your address is incorrect, you must update it by Tuesday, March 23, so there is time for your new address to be processed.
  • When you receive your paper check, please cash it upon receipt. If you have not received your paper check after 7 business days, contact Student Financial Services for assistance.

Why you are receiving your grant

You are receiving this emergency grant because you met the HEERF II eligibility requirements for Wake Forest students, which include:

• being enrolled (or in “continuous enrollment status”) as of February 11, 2021.
• having valid FAFSA results for 2020-2021 as of February 11, 2021.

The University has prioritized extending HEERF II funds to students with exceptional financial need as recommended by the U.S. Department of Education.

Using your grant

HEERF II funds may be used for any component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

Tax implications

IRS Frequently Asked Questions clarify that emergency financial aid grants paid to students under HEERF II for unexpected expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic are not included in students’ income because the amounts are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. Students should consult their individual tax advisors for additional information regarding this exclusion.

Questions

FAQs are available here. Please use this form to submit questions.

We know that COVID has caused many disruptions in the lives of Wake Forest students. We hope that this HEERF II funding helps alleviate some of the financial pressures that you’ve experienced.

— Student Financial Services